Leclerc hit with 20-second penalty after dramatic Miami Grand Prix finish
Charles Leclerc dropped to eighth in Miami after a 20-second penalty for cutting the track following a late-race spin.
Charles Leclerc’s Miami Grand Prix ended in frustration, with the Ferrari driver handed a 20-second penalty after the race - dropping him from sixth to eighth place.
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The Monegasque had been in contention for a podium for much of the race, even leading in the early stages.
But things unraveled in the final laps.
While battling Oscar Piastri for third, Leclerc spun at Turn 3 on the last lap and hit the wall, slightly damaging his car.
He managed to continue to the finish, but in doing so, he repeatedly cut chicanes as he struggled with handling issues - particularly in right-hand corners.
Race stewards later ruled that by leaving the track multiple times, he gained a lasting advantage.
Despite Leclerc explaining that the car was not behaving properly after the impact, officials concluded that a mechanical issue was not a valid justification under the rules.
He was therefore given a drive-through penalty, converted into a 20-second time penalty as it was applied after the race.
The sanction pushed him down the final classification, costing him two places.
Speaking after the race, Leclerc admitted responsibility, calling the mistake “entirely my fault.”
Max Verstappen was also penalised with a five-second time penalty for crossing the pit exit line, although it did not affect his finishing position.